A Dundee anti-austerity campaign group plans to field candidates in each of the city’s eight wards in next year’s council elections.
Dundee Against Cuts was set up on a platform of rejecting austerity and includes members of left-wing groups such as the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
They are now calling on candidates from other parties to sign a pledge rejecting further cuts to council budgets.
The local authority approved £23 million worth of savings in 2016/17 and will have to make further cutbacks in the next financial year.
Several high profile councillors, including SNP administration leader Ken Guild and a number of Labour councillors, have already said they will not run for re-election and DAC sees an opportunity to win its first seats.
Member Jim McFarlane said: “We’ve written to the SNP, Labour and the Greens in Dundee to ask if their candidates and councillors are prepared to sign up to a 100% anti-austerity pledge ahead of the elections in May next year.
“Since 2010, our city has lost well over £60 million in funding.
“Westminster, Holyrood and local councils have been playing a grotesque game of pass the parcel over cuts.
“This has lead to major cuts to jobs, pay restraint for staff, attacks on council workers’ terms and conditions and worsening public services for the people who rely on them.”
Mr McFarlane said: “As a local government work and trade unionist, I’m sick of political parties who claim to be against cuts but vote for them anyway.
“Trade unions, TUSC and DAC have have consistently pointed out that the financial powers are with councils to set legal no cuts budgets. This could be done as part of a mass campaign to win back the £60 million plus stolen from Dundee since 2010.”
The group’s Stuart Fairweather added: “Dundee Against Cuts is planning a city-wide election challenge next year to offer every voter in the city a chance to vote against cuts.
“Yet another round of austerity is planned for Dundee early next year and it’s high time that local councillors stood up and fought back. We’re keen to work with any candidate or councillor of any party that is prepared to fight austerity in deeds as well as words.”
